Salman Khan signs Pulkit Samrat for his next

By Hindustan Times

There’s something about new-kid-on-the-block, Pulkit Samrat. We’re still trying to figure what it is. But the actor is surely getting attention from the right kind of people — in spite of a debut dud, we might add. Bittoo Boss was meant to be the TV actor’s Bollywood launch pad. And even though it tanked at the box office, he got the attention of Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani (the duo runs Excel Entertainment).

Excel decided to cast him in the forthcoming Fukrey, a film about four Delhi boys. And even before Pulkit proves his mettle with his second film, he had another pleasant surprise in store. Sources reveal that now Salman Khan and his brother-in-law, director Atul Agnihotri, have signed him for their joint yet-untitled project.

“Farhan and Ritesh took Pulkit under their wing. They took it up upon themselves to groom him and give him a makeover — from his looks to his diction,” says our source. “Now, Salman Khan and Atul Aghnihotri have roped in Pulkit for their next production, which they are presently referring to as Production Number 3, as the title hasn’t been decided upon yet.” Atul remained unavailable for comment. But in an earlier interview to news agency PTI, he had spoken about the project: “We have finalised the script, director and locations. We are in the process of putting together the cast and crew.” Pulkit’s spokesperson says, “Pulkit is being groomed by one of the leading banners, Excel Entertainment, and he has become more confident. People are taking notice of him, and that’s led to the offers coming in. He has been offered a project which will be jointly produced by Salman and Atul.”